Special Category Data

Special categories of personal data

Certain types of sensitive personal data are subject to additional protection under the GDPR. These are listed under Article 9 of the GDPR as “special categories” of personal data. The special categories are:

  1. Personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin.
  2. Political opinions.
  3. Religious or philosophical beliefs.
  4. Trade union membership.
  5. Genetic data and biometric data processed for the purpose of uniquely identifying a natural person.
  6. Data concerning health.
  7. Data concerning a natural person’s sex life or sexual orientation.

Processing of these special categories is prohibited, except in limited circumstances set out in Article 9 of the GDPR.